Sensitivity pattern of bacterial isolates in childhood sepsis in clinical practice at Onitsha

To determine the commonest organism cultured from the blood of children suspected to have bacterial sepsis and their antibiogram sensitivity using the commonly used antibiotics in a private practice and see if there are differences from established data from other areas. Children beyond neonatal age presenting to a children's specialist hospital in south east Nigeria over a 2 year periodwith fever and other features of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) thought to be due to bacterial infection (but without focal point of infection) had their blood cultures done.Areview of their case notes and an analysis of their blood culture and antibiogramsensitivity resultswas done. Fourteen cases fitted the criteria and were analysed. was the commonest organism and of the profiled antibiogram the sensitivity pattern showed that ciproxin, gentamycin, chloramphenicol and erythromycinwere the best. Staphylococcus aureus is still a major cause of childhood bacterial sepsis. Gentamycin and erythromycin are safe and useful antibiotics in their treatment and are recommended.Keywords: childhood sepsis, bacteria, sensitivity

An Analysis of the Relationship Between Powerpoint Instruction and Students’ Retention Score in Computer Science (Database Management System) in Colleges of Education in Rivers State

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of power point instruction on students’ retention in computer science DBMs in colleges of education in Rivers State South-South of Nigerian. Two hypotheses guided the study. Four research assistants were trained and used for the study. The research assistants did the teaching and administered tests. COSAT were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by three experts, two from computer science and one in measurement and education. The internal consistency index was 0.79. The design of the study was a quasi-experimental study of pre-test and post-test, non-equivalent control group. Pre-COSAT and post-COSAT were administered few days before treatment begins. Treatment lasted for six/6 weeks, after treatment, both tests were reshuffled and administered as post-test COSAT. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the null hypotheses were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The results of the analysis revealed that the experimental group obtained a higher mean retention score than the control group in the post-COSAT. The difference was significant. The male students also had higher mean retention scores than the female counterparts. Keywords: PowerPoint Instruction, Retention Score, Colleges of Education, Computer Science & Data Base Management system

Prevalence and associations of symptomatic renal papillary necrosis in sickle cell anemia patients in South‑Eastern Nigeria

Aim: To assess the prevalence and associations of symptomatic renal papillary necrosis (RPN) in sickle cell anemia patients.Patients and Methods: The case notes of homozygous hemoglobin (Hb) S patients diagnosed with RPN were retrospectively assessed. Diagnosis was based on microscopic hematuria and positive ultrasound findings. Their steady state diastolic blood pressure, Hb, leukocyte count, platelet count, serum direct bilirubin, and aspartate transaminase, were obtained by automated analyzers. These were evaluated for any relationship with the occurrence of RPN.Results: Two hundred and twenty patients were assessed aged 6–55 years with a median age of 24 years. The prevalence of symptomatic RPN was found to be 2.3%. RPN was positively associated with the female gender (Chi‑square P value 0.001), but not with any other clinical or laboratory variable. However, other predictors of disease severity were positively associated with RPN such as age, diastolic blood pressure 0.180 (P = 0.016), serum aspartate transaminase, serum bilirubin 0.145 (0.027), Hb, and leukocyte count − 0.155 (P = 0.003).Conclusion: The prevalence of symptomatic RPN is low in this group of homozygous S patients and occurs more commonly in females. Improvement in care for these patients will reduce these chronic complications.Keywords: Female gender, microscopic hematuria, renal papillary necrosis, sickle cell anemi

Permanence, Temporality and the Rhythms of Life : Exploring Significance of the Village Arena in Igbo Culture

The village arena (or ‘square’ or ‘Otobo’ in Nsukka Igbo) is at the physical and socio-cultural centre of Igbo life, in southeast Nigeria. It is a space where intangible Igbo cultural heritage is played out, and also serves as a virtual museum where heritage materials are kept. The arena performs its roles in two very different ways: as a sacred space hosting initiation rites and religious rituals; and as a profane space for meetings and ceremonies. Either way, these uses see the arena transition between permanency and temporality, following routines and rhythms which themselves give the practices meaning and significance, and contribute to their inscription on the landscape. This paper explores the complexities associated with these village arenas with a particular focus on their socio-cultural, political, economic and religious functions through time, as well as the way those complexities are manifest in material cultures that serve to characterize the village arena